Australians were getting this vaccine for free. Now they could pay up to $180

On 1 October, COVID-19 vaccination moved into Australia’s routine National Immunisation Program, or NIP. This replaced the standalone National COVID-19 Vaccine Program created during the pandemic. The change matters because free vaccination no longer applies to everyone who previously used the pandemic program.

The NIP still pays for doses for selected at-risk groups. These include older Australians and severely immunocompromised people. People outside those groups must pay an out-of-pocket price set by their vaccination provider. There is no nationally fixed private price.

That created a new patchwork of costs. SBS News found prices ranging from $120 at one TerryWhite Chemmart outlet to $179.99 at Chemist Warehouse stores Australia-wide. Some pharmacies may not stock the vaccine because demand, wholesale costs, minimum orders, and short expiry dates make it a business risk.

The National Immunisation Program is Australia’s routine schedule for publicly funded vaccinations. For COVID-19, it replaced the standalone pandemic vaccination program on 1 October. Its purpose in this context is to direct public funding toward people most likely to benefit from vaccination.

The NIP covers the vaccination cost for specified groups, including older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in listed age ranges, and severely immunocompromised adults. Eligible people receive their COVID-19 doses free. The program’s coverage depends on age, identity, and medical risk.

People who do not meet those criteria are not covered for a free COVID-19 dose. They must pay the provider’s private price. Pharmacies set those prices themselves, so the NIP does not create one national charge for everyone. This explains why private prices differ sharply between outlets.

People who are ineligible for a free NIP vaccination may pay as much as $179.99 for a COVID-19 dose. The article describes this as almost $180. That is a significant expense for a single vaccination and can make access depend on where someone lives and which pharmacy they choose.

SBS News found one TerryWhite Chemmart outlet charging $120. Chemist Warehouse stores Australia-wide were charging $179.99. Terry White Chemmart prices identified by SBS News ranged from $120 in Melbourne CBD to $170 in central Adelaide. A Priceline store in Sydney quoted $130.

The difference exists because Australia has no nationally set private price. Providers can decide what to charge people outside the NIP. Independently owned Priceline stores make decisions individually, while wholesale costs and expected demand influence whether pharmacies offer the vaccine at all.

The NIP continues to fund COVID-19 vaccinations for groups considered more vulnerable to serious outcomes. Adults aged 75 and over can receive a free dose every six months. Adults aged 65 to 74 can receive one every 12 months.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 74 remain eligible for an annual dose. Adults aged 18 and over who are severely immunocompromised also qualify. These rules mean eligibility depends on age, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, or medical risk.

People outside these categories may still choose vaccination, but they must pay the provider’s private charge. Professor Holly Seale said the policy prioritises people more likely to be hospitalised. The article reports that only 8 per cent of Australians received a COVID-19 vaccination in the past year, making both eligibility and affordability important access issues.

Requiring payment could deter some people who are not eligible for free COVID-19 vaccination. The article does not give a new COVID-specific estimate of how many would stop vaccinating. However, Professor Holly Seale and pharmacist Anna Theophilos both acknowledged that price can influence decisions.

There is evidence that cost already creates barriers. About a quarter of people who experienced difficulty getting a flu vaccine reported cost as a barrier. Private COVID-19 prices ranged from $120 to $179.99, so the expense may be especially difficult for people who want vaccination but cannot easily absorb it.

The broader uptake picture is already low. Only 8 per cent of Australians received a COVID-19 vaccination in the past year, compared with 30.5 per cent receiving influenza vaccination. Theophilos said it would be naïve to say price would not deter anyone, while the NIP prioritises groups at greatest risk.

Pharmacies are not required to stock the privately purchased COVID-19 vaccine. They can decide whether offering it makes business sense. This matters because people who want a paid dose may have fewer nearby options, even if they can afford the price.

Anna Theophilos said the wholesale price was high and pharmacists would assess demand before stocking it. Minimum order requirements also create risk. The current vaccine has a short expiry date in February, so pharmacies could be left with doses they cannot sell before they expire.

Usually, pharmacists have longer-dated stock and agreements allowing wholesalers to buy back expired products. Theophilos said a similar agreement for this vaccine could resolve the problem. Until then, some stores may avoid stocking it, while others may charge more to cover wholesale costs and the risk of waste.

When public funding cannot cover every vaccine for everyone, governments must set priorities. The approach described here focuses on people most likely to suffer serious consequences and on vaccination groups expected to produce the greatest health benefit. It treats funding as a limited resource.

Professor Holly Seale said the government assesses who is most at risk and where vaccines will have the greatest impact. The NIP therefore prioritises older adults, severely immunocompromised adults, and specified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander age groups. Seale said the decision was based on available evidence and international data.

This approach does not mean vaccination is unavailable to everyone else. Ineligible people can still seek a private dose, but they pay the provider’s price. Seale said Australia cannot provide every vaccine free of charge and does not need to. Future combined vaccines, such as COVID-19 and flu, could reduce individual vaccine costs.